Lawn-mower



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

F. M. WATERS.

LAWN MOWER N0,515,414. Patented Feb. 27, 1894.

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2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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P. M. WATER-S. LAWN MOWER No. 515,414. Pate nted Feb. 27; 1894.

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UNITED STATES,

PATENT Fries.

FRANK M. WVATERS, OF DAYTON, OHIO.

LAWN-MOWER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 515,414, dated February 27, 1894. Application filed July 3,1893. Serial No. 479,539- (No model.)

.To all? whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK M. WATERS, a

citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lawn-Mowers; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, whichlorm a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in lawn-mwers.

The objects accomplished by said improvements are in the production of a mower that IS made noiseless in its operation by entirely dispensing with the use of cog wheels in the running mechanism, and further, to reduce the weight of the mower to a minimum or'to an approximation of one half the weight of other machines having a corresponding capacity, and at the same time combine durability. and lightness of structure, and preserve in the machine those features that are requisite to the performance of efficient work.

A further object is to reduce the cost of construction, which is done in the same ratio as the reduction of the weight of the mechanism is efiected, and still further objects are accomplished all of which tend to otherwise perfect the machine which will be fully described in the specification and pointed out in the claims.

The drawings supplementing the specification are referred to in connection therewith.

Figure 1, represents a plan view; one of the drive wheels is shown partly in section to exhibit the friction pinion; Fig. 2, an enlarged vertical section of one of the drive wheels, detached, showing the inner peripheral groove with the friction pinion therein; Fig. 8, a similar view in modified form, in which construction the groove is'dispensed with, as is also the form of pinion shown in Fig. 2; Fig.

4, a side elevation of one of the drive wheels,

side plates or brackets, and hanging arm or lever; Fig. 5, a detached, detail view, in side elevation, of one of the hanging arms or 1evers; Fig. 6, a top view of the same; Fig. 7, a detail, detached view of a portion of the reel spindle showing a horizontal section of the adjustable sleeve and bracket boss; Fig. 8, a detail end and side elevation of the adj ustable sleeve, detached; Fig. 9, a detached, detail view of the end of the adjustable sleeve, and bracket boss, in elevation; the bracket is broken away and the spindle removed; Fig. 10, a detached, detail View of one of the side plates or brackets, and hanging arm.

The numerals used to designate the differout parts will be employed on the same parts throughout the difierent views.

11 designates the side plates or brackets fixed at their upper ends to transverse brace rod 12, which penetrates bosses 13-13 on said brackets; screws are inserted in these bosses whereby the brackets are secured.

14; is a supporting roller with slotted arms attached to the front part of the brackets by bolts passed through the slots therein and through corresponding slots in the brackets. A transverse cutter bar 15 is fixed to ledges extending from the brackets in-the rear of the supporting roller; the position of this cutter bar is sufficiently close to the sward to effeet a clean close out by the spiral blades.

16 designates the reel spindle, the ends of which are journaled in the brackets through bosses 17-17 which are secured by screw and jam nut to adjustable sleeves 18-18; these sleeves are provided with cavities in the sides thereof for the reception of the screws by means of which the bracket and sleeve are fixed, while the reel spindle rotates therein; these sleeves are also provided with a longitudinal slot that admits of their being compressed to take up the wear incident to said spindle.

19-49 are friction pinions provided with beveled or pointed peripheries, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and fixed to the ends of the reel spindle 16; through the agency of these friction pinions, rotary motion is imparted to the reel.

20-20 indicates hanging arms, shown in the drawings as composed of two members fixed to each other, but it is preferable to cast this important adjunct in one piece. These hanging arms are fulcrumed on the brace rod 12, adjacent to the bracket, and are provided with shafts 21-21 upon which the driving wheels 22-22 are mounted.

23-23 indicate lugs projecting from the rear end of the hanging arms, to which the bifurcated ends 2424 of the handle, are attached. 0n the inner periphery of the driving wheels an annular groove 26 is formed, of a shape corresponding to the beveled surface of the pinion 19, in which said pinion is adapted to fit,see Figs. 1 and 2.

It will be noted that power to operate the hanging arms is applied thereto by pressing downwardly upon the handle; the frictional contact of the driving wheels with the pinions is increased correspondingly with the amount of pressure applied to said handle; the hanging arms on which the wheels are mounted are subjected to a vibratory motion and thereby a leverage is applied to the wheels necessary to maintain any amount of friction on the pinion that is requisite for the rotation of the reel. While the frictional contact between the pinion and driving wheel may be increased or decreased according to the nature of the work, the operation of the machine is noiseless, whether a high or low degree of friction is maintained.

In the drawings, I have shown the drive wheel as having but one peripheral groove, and the pinion as having but one beveled circumference; this, I think, is the most preferable construction,but the friction pinion and the inner surface of the wheel may be smooth as is shown in Fig. 3, or the surfaces of these parts may be otherwise constructed Without detracting from their capacity to perform the function herein described,or departing from my invention. I do not, therefore, wish to limit myself to the identical construction herein described.

To limit the forward movement of the hang-- ing arms and thereby prevent the pinions 19-19 from becoming disengaged from the peripheral groove 26, a lug or stop 27, projects from the brackets, which arrests the forward vibration of said arms,but does not interfere with the backward vibration, as it is the latter vibration that controls the friction between the drive wheel and the pinion.

The mechanism illustrated and described may be used with any Wheel of a diameter from six to ten inches, without necessitating a change in any of the adjunctive devices.

Owing to the extreme lightness of the machine, the damaging effecl. occasioned by coming against unseen obstructions, is materially lessened.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a lawn mower, the combination of the side plates or brackets 11 extending rearwardly; the reel or revolving cutter ournaled therein; the hanging arms mounted adjacent to the upper end of said brackets, upon which the drive wheels are mounted; the friction pinions 19 rigidly mounted on the spindle of the cutting reel, adjacent to the inner rim of the drive wheels, and the handle 24 attached to the hanging arms, by means of which the inner rims of the drive wheels are brought in close engagement with the pinions 19 when pressure is exerted on the handle, substantially as described.

2. In a lawn mower, the combination of the side plates or brackets, one end of which extends rearwardly to support the ground roller and cutter bar; the reel or revolving cutter journaled in said plates or brackets; and the friction pinions 19 rigidly mounted on the ends of the spindle of said revolving cutter;

the hanging arms pivoted adjacent to said plates or brackets, and the drive wheels mounted on said hanging arms with their inner rims in proximity to the pinions 19; and the handle 24 pivoted to the hanging arms, whereby pressure upon said handle will cause the inner rim of the drive wheels to come 1n close engagement with the pinions 19, substantially as described.

3. In a lawn mower, the combination with the side plates or brackets, with the reel or revolving cutter j ournaled therein;- of the hanging arms mounted adjacent to said plates or brackets, and the friction pinions 19 rigidly mounted on the ends of the reel spindie; the drive wheels mounted on the hanging arms, with their inner rims in proximity to the friction pinions; the handle 24; having an attachment with the rearward end of the hanging arms, by means of which, when pressure is exerted on said handle, the inner portion of the rims of the driving wheels will be brought in close engagement with the friction pinions, as herein specified.

4. The combination with the brace rod, and the reel or revolving cutter; of the side plates or brackets 11, with the stops 2'7 thereon, said brackets extending rearwardly to support the cutter bar and the ground roller; the friction pinions 19 mounted on the spindie of the reel or revolving cutter; the hanging arms loosely mounted on the brace rod adjacent to the plates 11, with the drive wheels mounted thereon inclosing the friction pinions19; and the handle 24 attached to the hanging arms, by meansof which said arms are vibrated when pressure is exerted on the handle, and the inner portion of the rims of the drive wheels brought in close contact with the friction pinions, asis herein specified.

5. The combination with the side plates 11 having the stops 27, the brace rod, and the reel or revolving cutter journaled in said plates; of the angular arms loosely mounted on saidbrace red; the drive wheels-provided with inner peripheral grooves, mounted on said arms; the friction pinions rigidly mounted on the spindle of the reel or revolving cutter, adapted to fit said peripheral grooves; and the handle 24 attached to the angular arms, whereby pressure on said handle will bring the peripheral grooves 011 the drive wheels in contact with the friction pinion', substantially as described. in

In testimony whereof I afix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

FRANK M. WATERS. Witnesses:

GEORGE H. W001), R. J AY MQCARTY, 

